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Friday, May 31, 2013

Wow where did the month of May go?!! It was one full of celebrations: NursesWeek, Mother's Day and graduations. Time flies when you're having fun - that's for certain. I hope you all had memorable times this month as well.

As we head right into June, the celebrating continues with more graduations and Father's Day. And summer will be upon us. Hope the good times continue for you.

Speaking of graduations...
I had the honor recently of attending and speaking at a grad event at Santa Monica College. It was a fabulous event, and would have been something my own nursing class of many years ago could have appreciated and gotten a lot out of. I'm so happy to see these events taking place now to help students plan for their future education and vocation.

The students were quite impressive and I wish them all long and satisfying careers.i have to say that the admissions process has greatly improved the prospects for graduating successful nursing candidates. This will help to diminish the drop out rate in schools and reduce the number of nurses who end up leaving the profession in the first couple of years.

Nursing is a challenging profession and it isn't for everyone. One of the most commonly asked questions from nursing grads is: How long does it take to become comfortable in your role as a nurse?

"Yikes!! I Forgot Everything I Learned!"
One of the points I made to those students was that in your first days as a nurse you're going to be certain that you have forgotten everything you ever learned in nursing school. But another important thing to remember is that you didn't learn everything you'll need to know in nursing school. Nursing is a lifelong learning journey.

Give yourselves about a year to feel comfortable and confident. Don't be disappointed that even after six months you aren't truly comfortable. It will take time. Some of it will come quickly, and some things will just not be comfortable for a long time.

This helps new nurses to be extra cautious and learn the process of double checking everything so that you will DO NO HARM. Yes, you will make mistakes. We are all human and we make mistakes. But if you are always careful, those mistakes will be minor. They will nag at you forever as reminders to not get cocky and reckless.

First Job Won't Be Your Dream Job
New grads will quickly find that they probably won't find their dream job right away. And sometimes that dream will change many times over as they experience fields of nursing they never even considered. Give this process time as well.

Your first job is going to be more about getting your foot in the door and gaining some experience. Job seek with an open mind!!!! And be willing to relocate for awhile. Look for new grad programs such as this one from Kaiser Permanente.

As the new kid on the block you're going to have to pay your dues. You won't get the best shifts, the best hours, the best case loads. You're going to have to be preceptored and mentored to ensure that your skills are solid and your level of practice is safe. You will be working all of the holidays for awhile. And weekends will be more about working than having fun with your friends and family.

It's all part of the process. Soon enough there will be a new group of newbies to take some (but never all) of that burden off your shoulders.

Advanced Degrees and Certifications
Always consider furthering your education whether it be with an advanced degree or through certifications. These will always give you the advantage when being considered for a job. Even as a new grad you can get a certification in ACLS and you'll be ahead of the new grad competing for the same job who doesn't have this yet. Throughout your career there will be opportunities to improve your skills and knowledge -- take advantage!!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Recent salary surveys show that the estimated annual increase in the salaries of nurses and NFL players is the same. This might come as a surprise to many. However, the nursing sector has gained importance and recognition over the years, both in professional as well as academic circles.

Many young students are now opting for a degree in nursing at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This has helped the country meet the ever-increasing demand for nurses in the healthcare sector. Now that nurse salaries have increased, the chances of growing professionally have also increased.

Many across the country and the world at large admire national Football League (NFL) players. With a fan following in millions, they have lucrative salary packages in order to maintain a lavish lifestyle. However, there are some interesting facts that make nursing an equally attractive area of work.

Professionals in the field of nursing have experienced exponential increase in their salaries over the past couple of decades. In the last five years, average annual increase in income in the nursing sector stands at approximately 1.5%.

Speaking of NFL players and nurses in the same breath, research shows that the projected average salary increase for both these professionals for the year 2014 will be approximately 3%. The satisfaction that one receives while serving humanity is surely equal to (if not more than) the jubilant fame for NFL players because of their fan following.

Not only those who practice it, but a significant number of laymen as well see nursing as a sacred profession. Monetary advantages in this area of study make it a perfect match for many people. Although people must opt for work according to their level of interest, nursing is something that gives inner peace and satisfaction. Most nurses do not enter this field simply thinking that it’s not that rewarding in terms of salary. This is false. And with the annual salary increase touching almost 3%, one can expect a very bright future for those who wish to serve mankind.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

On Nurses Day, Monday, May 6, we begin the week long celebration of Nurses Week 2013. There are many ways to honor nurses. One way would be to support legislation that would help elevate the nursing profession by establishing an office of the National Nurse for Public Health which would bring attention to the nursing profession and provide national leadership in the health care community to meet the needs of the public.

" There is overwhelming evidence supporting the critical need to boost health promotion and prevention efforts as well as answer the public demand for increased leadership in nursing. HR 485 will bring forth the significant and trusted voice of the nurse to the ongoing conversation about health and health care in America. " Teri Mills RN, MS, CNE President National Nursing Network Organization

HR485 The National Nurse Act of 2013 is an active bill in the House of Representatives. It was introduced by a nurse, Eddie Bernice Johnson TX-30. To date there are 54 co-sponsors for this bill. Give yourself and your colleagues the best Nurses Week gift by calling or emailing your U.S. Representative and either thanking them for their support of HR485, or encouraging them to step up and co-sponsor the bill now. Ask to speak to the aide in charge of health care issues. Tell them you're a constituent.

Monday night (5/6/13) at 9PM EST, Susan Sullivan, Secretary of NNNO (National Nursing Network Organization) will be on RN.FM Radio to discuss the bill and answer questions from listeners. Please listen in and tell your friends. To listen LIVE on your computer, visit this link (http://bit.ly/Yl7Cyt). You can listen on your phone by calling (347) 308-8064. The program will also be available after the broadcast for archived listening at http://bit.ly/Yl7Cyt. It will also be available as a free podcast on iTunes.

RN.FM Radio welcomes callers, and also has a live Tweetchat
during the show. Listeners can interact with one another and post
questions or comments to the hosts and guest. Use Twitter, and please
insert the hashtag #rnfmradio in your tweets. You can also follow the chat at http://tweetchat.com/room/rnfmradio.

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